TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City, Michigan resident Hettie Molvang said she has facilitated Parkinson’s Network North meetings for about 15 years with the goal of providing information and getting people talking to each other.
“The support group is an opportunity to talk to other Parkinsonians in a safe place,” she said. “Parkinson’s is a chronic, multi-system neurodegenerative condition. Everything begins to slow down. Parkinson’s has a tendency to steal everything you’ve got.”
The nonprofit started in 1984 with one meeting time, but Molvang said high attendance led them to add a second session to their monthly schedule several years ago.
“It has grown considerably because Parkinson’s is doubling the world over,” she said. “It is now considered an epidemic.”
Molvang said about 1 million people have Parkinson’s disease in the United States, making the disease second to Alzheimer’s. That number is expected to double within a couple decades because of injuries and environmental factors, she said.
Molvang said the biggest problem is that people are often diagnosed 10-20 years after they show the first signs of Parkinson’s disease, such as loss of smell and slower movements.
“You are not aware you have it until you have a motor symptom,” she said. “No two Parkinsonians are alike. This makes it very difficult to treat.”
Often, Molvang said, Parkinson’s disease is thought of as a condition affecting older people, but today’s research shows this is not true.
“We’re finding that people with Parkinson’s are younger now,” she said, naming Michael J. Fox as an example. Fox was 29 years old when he was diagnosed.
Though there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, Molvang said regular exercise is one of the best ways to lessen symptoms.
Occupational therapist Karen Getz agreed. Getz currently teaches the “Moving Forward” class at the Betsie Hosick Health and Fitness Center in Frankfort. The center added this class to the schedule of cardio and balance events in early February.
“There’s definitely a need in our community for support with people with Parkinson’s,” she said. “They want direction. The class puts control back in their hands with research-based exercise.”
Getz said she leads participants through “large, amplified movements” that repeat so Parkinson’s patients can regain a normal level of function. Counting, singing and socializing also help improve the voice.
The sessions make everyone tired, Getz said, but they are worth it. She added that anyone is welcome.
“We encourage people to be strong,” she said. “It’s not just for people with Parkinson’s. We want to make it all-inclusive.”
The “Moving Forward” class meets at 11 a.m. every Thursday at the Betsie Hosick Health and Fitness Center. Call 231-352-9661 for more details.
Parkinson’s Network North’s daytime group meets at 10 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Traverse City Senior Center. The evening meeting starts at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at Munson Community Health Center.
Support groups are also available in Frankfort and Suttons Bay. Caregivers and patients are invited to attend, discuss resources and learn from speakers.
People can call 231-947-7389 if interested in volunteering or learning more about Parkinson’s Network North.
http://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/supporting-parkinson-s-patients/article_a5a85402-1690-5489-a303-e5b2e7022ae5.html
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